Swimming pool cleaner operating head

Abstract: Swimming pool cleaner components are provided to form a unitary combination of a body (2) housing a diaphragm (5) in communication with an inner tube (8) and the body (2) in communication with an outer tube (13) around the inner tube (8) and secured to the body (2) to locate the diaphragm (5) and inner tube (8) with a rotatable coupling collar (19) on the outer tube (13) to position the components in an outer body (16) of the swimming pool cleaner.

Description: This invention relates to components of an operating head for swimming pool cleaners. Particularly it relates to an assembly of components for cleaners which utilise a tubular resilient diaphragm as a means for interrupting fluid flow through the cleaner to provide movement over a surface to be cleaned. A variety of devices exist that move automatically over surfaces of swimming pools to be cleaned. One such pool cleaner operates in co-operation with the reduced pressure caused by a pump to induce debris-laden fluid within a pool to flow through the cleaner (and other filtration equipment if desired). The cleaner functions by causing a valve, or diaphragm, to oscillate, periodically interrupting the fluid flow through the cleaner. This periodic interruption in turn causes movement of the device over the surface to be cleaned. Suitable valves or diaphragms for such a fluid-interruption cleaner are described in U S Patent Nos. 4,642,833 and 4,742,593. U S Patent No. 5,014,382, discloses one such fluid-interruption version of an automatic swimming pool cleaner. As described in the patent, the cleaner preferably includes a tubular resilient diaphragm to interrupt the flow of fluid (such as water) through the cleaner during use. The diaphragm entrance is typically located adjacent the inlet foot of the cleaner, while its exit communicates with an inner tube circumscribed by the cleaner's rigid extension pipe (outer tube). Because the cleaner's exterior body (together with the inlet foot and inner tube) fix the diaphragm in position, the diaphragm is not easily removed from the cleaner for repair or replacement. Moreover, the rigid structures can accommodate only a single size diaphragm. As a result, not only must diaphragm manufacturing tolerances be minimized, but substitution of diaphragms of different lengths is precluded as well. Even more pertinent to this invention is the disclosure in the applicant's own U S Patent No. 5,315,728 which describes the features of the preamble of claim 1. However, in the cleaner of US-5315728, the assembly is not freely notable about its axis. According to this invention there is provided an assembly of swimming pool cleaner components comprising: a) a hollow body having an axial inlet and an axial outlet; b) a tubular diaphragm-type valve having inlet and outlet ends, the diaphragm-type valve housed within the body, c) an inner tubular member having a first end located in the outlet end of the diaphragm-type valve, d) an outer tubular member, positioned over the inner tubular member, and having a first end longitudinally adjustably positioned in the axial outlet of the body, said assembly being characterized in that it comprises: e) means positioned between the inner and outer tubular members and within the axial outlet of the body, for adjustably connecting the first end of the inner and outer tubular members and the outlet end of the diaphragm-type valve relative to each other and to the axial outlet of the body, and f) a coupling member freely rotatable around the outer tubular member. Thus there may be provided an assembly of operating components which may be freely rotatable about its axis in a body providing orientation of the assembly relative to the surface being cleaned. The invention also provides for the outer tubular member and body to be in screw-threaded engagement and for means between the inner and outer tubular members to be a cantilever ring capable of radial and longitudinal contraction between a tapered inner end to the outer tubular member and a radially projecting rib on the inner tubular member adjacent the end, of the inner tubular member engaging the diaphragm. Further features of a preferred embodiment of this invention provide for the coupling means to be a collar rotatable on the outer tubular member with an axial thrust ball bearing located between a flange on the outer tubular member and an end of the collar with opposite end of the collar located against a stop projecting from the outer tubular member. A further feature of a preferred embodiment of the invention provides for there to be a thrust washer between the end of the collar and the stop. In a preferred embodiment, the invention also provides for the bearing components to be moulded in suitable plastics material. Further features of a preferred embodiment of this invention provide for the bearing to have a lower and upper ring each having at least three open ended ball receiving formations formed therein with a ball located within each pair of opposing ball receiving formations. Still further features of a preferred embodiment of this invention provide for the inlet end of the diaphragm to be in frictional engagement with the body and carrying a flange which abuts against the inlet end of the body. These and other features of this invention will be more clearly understood from the following description, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings which show in: Figure 1 a longitudinal part cross-sectional view of the components in an assembled relationship; and, Figure 2 is a cross sectional detail of a thrust absorbing bearing. As shown the assembled components for the operating mechanism of a swimming pool cleaner are indicated generally at (1). They consist essentially of a hollow tubular body (2) screwthreaded at the normally upper end (3). An inwardly directed flange (4) is located below the screwthreads. Fitted into the body is the tubular diaphragm (5) the outer end of which has a series of integrally moulded ribs (6) so that the diaphragm (5) is in sealing engagement with the body and an end flange (7) located against the end of the body (2). An inner tubular member (8) has its inner end fitted into the end of diaphragm (5) and held in position by a ring (9) engaging in a groove in the end of the diaphragm (5). This end of the inner tubular member (8) carries a series of ribs (10) co-operating with a cantilever ring (11) in the same manner as described in our U S Patent No. 5,315,728. However, in the construction according to this invention pressure is exerted on ring (11), by the tapered inner end (12) of an outer tubular member (13). The tubular member (13) has external screwthreads at (14) which engage the screwthreads in the upper end (3) of the body (2). By screwing the outer tubular member (13) into the body (2), the body (2), diaphragm (5), inner tubular member (8) becomes a unitary assembly with these parts fixed in relation to each other. The diaphragm may be loaded in the manner described in our U S Patent No. 5,315,728. The outer end (15) of the outer tubular member (13) is tapered to enable it to be attached to the flexible hose extending between the pool cleaner and weir during cleaning operations. To enable the above described assembly to be included as part of a complete pool cleaner an outer body (16) indicated in dotted lines in Fig 1 is provided. This body (16) has the usual form of surface engaging disc (17) and inlet foot (18) permitting debris-laden water to be drawn through the cleaner to the pool filtration plant. Repeated flexing of the diaphragm causes interruption of the flow through the cleaner and consequent random movement of the cleaner over the submerged surface to be cleaned. To enable the cleaner hose to rotate relative to the foot (18) of the cleaner during use a collar (19) is positioned on the outer tubular member (13) between a flange (20) and a locating stop (21) on the outer tubular member (13). A thrust washer (not shown) may be located between the collar (13) and the stop (21). The thrust washer may also take the form of a lubricating ring. The collar provides a groove (22). This groove is engaged by the upper end of the outer body (16) and the diaphragm end of the assembly locates in a recess provided in the foot (18). The collar (19) has an outer end (23) which is resiliently flexible so that it can be forced over and engage under the locating stop (21). The inner end of collar (19) carries a peripheral flange (24) and an axial thrust absorbing bearing (25) is positioned between flange (24) and the flange (20) on the outer tubular member (13). Referring to Figure 2 the bearing (25) is a ball bearing (26) moulded from suitable plastics material and the balls (27) are preferably made from acetyl polymeric material. The bearing (26) consists of a lower ring (28) and an upper ring (29). Each of the rings has at least three open ended ball receiving formations (30) formed therein. Suitable retaining members (not shown) are provided on the rings and the lower ring (28) and upper ring (29) are clipped together with the balls (27) located within the opposed open ended ball receiving formations (30). The balls (27) project slightly through the open ends of the ball receiving formations (30) to abut against the flanges (20) and (24) as shown in Figure 2. It will be appreciated that the assembled components provide the driving assembly for the cleaner and that it can be incorporated in wide variety of outer bodies. It is easily removed from the outer body for repair or replacement of any of the individual components, particularly the diaphragm which can be removed by simply releasing the outer tubular member (13) from the body (2) and withdrawing the inner tubular member (8) and diaphragm (5) from the body (2). It will also be appreciated that the components of this invention are assembled so that there are no leakage paths into the outer tubular member as occurs with other constructions using tubular diaphragms.

Claims: An assembly of swimming pool cleaner components comprising: a) a hollow body (2) having an axial inlet (7) and an axial outlet; b) a tubular diaphragm-type valve (5) having inlet and outlet ends, the diaphragm-type valve (5) housed within the body (2), c) an inner tubular member (8) having a first end located in the outlet end of the diaphragm-type valve (5), d) an outer tubular member (13), positioned over the inner tubular member (8), and having a first end longitudinally adjustably positioned in the axial outlet of the body (2), said assembly being characterized in that it comprises: e) means (11) positioned between the inner (8) and outer (13) tubular members and within the axial outlet of the body (2), for adjustably connecting the first end of the inner (8) and outer tubular (13) members and the outlet end of the diaphragm-type valve (5) relative to each other and to the axial outlet of the body (2), and f) a coupling member (19) freely rotatable around the outer tubular member (13). An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer tubular member (13) and body (2) are in screw-threaded engagement with each other. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means between the inner and outer tubular members comprises a cantilever ring (11) capable of radial and longitudinal contraction between a tapered inner end (12) of the outer tubular member (13) and a radially projecting rib (10) on the inner tubular member (8) adjacent the end of the inner tubular member (8) extending from the diaphragm-type valve (5). An assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the coupling member (19) comprises a collar (19) rotatable on the outer tubular member (13) between a flange (20) and a stop (21) spaced apart along the outer tubular member. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that there is a thrust washer between the collar (19) and the stop (21). An assembly as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that an axial thrust ball bearing (25) is located between the flange (20) on the outer tubular member (13) and a flange (24) on the end of the collar (19). An assembly as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the ball bearing (25) comprises a lower (28) and upper (29) ring each having at least thee open ended ball receiving formations formed therein with a ball (27) located within each pair of opposing ball receiving formations. An assembly as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the bearing parts are moulded from acetyl synthetic resin. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, characterized in that the inlet end of the diaphragm-type valve is in frictional engagement with the body (2) and has a flange which abuts against the inlet to the body (2).

Inventors: ATKINS DAVID SEAGRAVE, ATKINS, DAVID SEAGRAVE
Applicants: ZODIAC POOL CARE EUROPE
Application year: 1994
Main classification: E04H4
IPC codes: E04H4